Try CyberGhost for 45 Days, Love it or Your Money Back! www.cyberghostvpn.com/offer/fc_mnngvrrgi Near Perfect Movies on Prime Video 19. Frailty 18. The Endless Summer 17. Open Range 16. Miniscule 15. Moneyball 14. Romeo and Juliet 13. The Social Network 12. Traffic 11. Mud 10. The Odd Couple 9. Leaving Las Vegas 8. Hard Eight 7. Fast Times at Ridgemont High 6. The Killing 5. Snatch 4. In Bruges 3. The Usual Suspects 2. Rudy 1. Predator
Fantastic list, and agree on Prime’s horrid UI. Just To clarify, Moneyball is about the GENERAL manager of the A’s, Billy Beane (Brad Pitt), who constructs the 25-man roster. Hoffman plays the manager, who is the on-field leader of the team,, and he’s steadfastly opposed to Billy’s newfangled approach
1.Frailty 2.The Endless Summer 3.Open Range 4. Minuscule, Valley of the lost ants 5.Money ball 6.Romeo & Juliet 7. The Social Network 8.Traffic 9.Mud 10.The odd couple 11.Leaving Las Vegas 12.Hard Eight 13.Fast times at Ridgemont High 14.The Killing 15.Snacht 16.In Bruges 17.The Usual Suspects 18.Rudy 19.Predator; You’re welcome 😉
Good lord you are so right about Prime’s UI. Sometimes I get so frustrated with it I just give up, so your recommendations are pretty much the only way I engage with Prime at all these days. Let you mess with it! Predator marathon this weekend, for sure.
I’ve learned to just turn on the free to me button, then just look at entire lists in each genre. Lots of crap in there, but I can always find something.
Predator is great. Great enough to actually own a hard copy. The Amazon Prime version is so compressed and noisy. It's also not in the original 1.85:1 ratio so it's cropped and annoying. Really only watchable if you have no other media format to view.
Also a Gen Xer, that has married one also and brought our kids up with it - and this whole list is absolute perfection ( with amazing picks from that time, a new renaissance movie golden age from this time). This is definitely one of the BEST lists from Flick Connection- every pick is absolutely great for any true movie buff
Fantastic one liners, awesome characters, lots of action, perfect pacing, simple plot, excellent effects. It's like a checklist of everything you need to make the perfect action movie. It ranks up there with The Terminator, and Mad Max: Road Warrior.
Totally agree. The first time I saw it I missed the opening section where you see the spacecraft. This meant I was in the same confusion as the rest of the team about what was out there in the jungle. I think this actually made it better.
Big trouble in little China and predator have stayed at my personal top two movies ever. I can’t believe predator is still standing the test of time. Oh and poltergeist is up there too.
One of my very favorites. This is the closest to what reading Lonesome Dove feels like, beyond even the miniseries, and Duval is bringing the same insanely charming energy.
Predator was, and still remains, an amazing film. Individually, the character are all very strong, and that strength come through with minimum dialog. The movie is extremely tight and well paced, with no down time, no filler, no romantic segues, and not a single wasted scene. And where some movies trip over ambiguous, disappointing, or inadequate endings, Predator nails it's conclusion.
I wish I could see it for the first time all over again… now there’s an idea a temporary memory loss thing a ma jig that allows just that. Get to da choppa!
It is even sadder when you understand that the John O'Brien, author of the novel the movie is based on, committed suicide two weeks after learning it would be made into a movie. It was his first novel and his father said it was his suicide note.
I've been a long time subscriber. Watched dozens of your recommendations. In fact, your show is the main show I get good movies from. I just wanted to tell you I really don't think your show could get any better! Seriously, if it was a weekly show on TV, I'd set my DVR to continuously record it. Some network should pick you up! Keep up the awesome work!!! 😎🤘
First ... 100% on Frailty. Saw it in the theater with my Dad, we both couldn't figure out how we felt after leaving. Never stopped recommending people watch it since. Second.. the fact that you got Predator... SPOT ON BRO.. makes me recognize how good you really are at these reviews. #CheersMate
The percentage of people that I have recommended Frailty to that enjoyed it is at 100% and it is very unusual to find someone that has actually heard of it. I saw it in theater as well, and since. A very unexpected movie, and I miss Bill Paxton.
Frailty is like the original The Wicker Man in that both films challenge the viewer on issues of belief, faith and the call to act (or not) based on how seriously that belief is taken.
Predator is one of those movies that I didn't really know what was coming. Other movies that surprised me with their twists: Matrix, Roadhouse, Oblivion. They're the kind of movies that jolted me and had me looking around the theatre wondering if anyone else saw that 90 turn the movies just made.
Frailty has been a favorite of my brother and I for years. Got so many people to watch it, were expecting nothing, and were floored. Moneyball is just plain well written, directed, acted and is very compelling. Im with you on In Bruges though, I couldnt understand it, but there was something that made me want to rewatch and figure it out.
Benicio del Toro is a great actor that was in Traffic, Snatch and The Usual Suspects. They should have added The Hunted as well. Dont seem like to many seen that movie, but Traffic is my favorite.
Predator is a phenomenal film, the script is super super tight and the performances and music are fantastic. Something that's so unique to this movie is the tone... How they translated anxiety, fear, masculinity and doubt all rolled into one is like a feat in itself, I haven't had the same feeling from characters since... A definite classic
Predator's orchestral score is so absolutely perfect for an epic jungle action film, and really helps elevates it over almost all other action films I've seen. Alan Silvestri is a genius.
Thanks for always coming through Darren! Yours is the ONLY channel I watch for viewing recommendations. Love your presentation style and appreciate how much you appreciate the real art of movie making!
I saw Leaving Las Vegas on the same night that I bought Natalie Merchants Tigerlilly album. To this day I think San Andreas Fault is one of the saddest songs ever, and it has nothing to do with the song itself. That’s how depressing Leaving LV was.
Wow.. yes!! This movie is actually so perfect at being what the story is about that I actually can not watch it without getting really depressed.. If I was to ever consider drinking myself to death,, Vegas is where I would do it.. and I lived there for 4 years. but just so you know.. I'm okay. Really.
Darren, LOVE your pick of Open Range! It's not as well known, but it might actually be my favorite Western ever. Definitely the most underrated gunfight of all time.
Thanks for the vid! I know this director isn't for everyone's taste... but my favorite director of all time is David Lynch. I would highly recommend Mulholland Drive to anyone, and for a t.v. series, nothing beats Twin Peaks imo
So glad to see Frailty getting the recognition it’s deserves! 💯 Me & my friends watched it when I was like 12, About the age of the boys so it probably hit harder. I’ve been a huge fan ever since! 🤙🏼
19. Frailty - never see it, can not comment / need to see this movie 18. The Endless Summer - never see it, can not comment 17. Open Range - never see it, can not comment 16. Miniscule - never see it, can not comment 15. Moneyball - never see it. Thought it was good. From my own point of view I would not call it near perfect but i think I can clearly why you and others might. 14. Romeo and Juliet - never see it. I would say very very good not sure I would say near perfect. 13. The Social Network - never see it, can not comment 12. Traffic - Agree, this is near perefect 11. Mud - Very good movies and I seriously liked it,. ...near perfect, hmmm. From my view point i would score it 7.4 / 10 10. The Odd Couple - would need to rewatch 9. Leaving Las Vegas - never see it, can not comment 8. Hard Eight - never see it, can not comment 7. Fast Times at Ridgemont High - agreed 6. The Killing - never see it, can not comment 5. Snatch - agreed 4. In Bruges - very good movie 3. The Usual Suspects -- agreed 2. Rudy - did you do you your homework on this film? Turns out only a very very small of it is actually true. Made for very good emotional fictional movie - yes i would agree it is near perfect. 1. Predator - Agreed
I was worried that none of my favourites would make this list! 'The Odd Couple' and 'Leaving Las Vegas' are undoubtedly two of the best films ever made...
Frailty has a couple of good twists. Open range is a great western. Kevin Costner apparently had a pretty bad case of appendicitis while filming and directing. I also really enjoy the 310 to Yuma remake. Appaloosa was very good too. Ed Harris also starred in and directed it. Last but not least, Mud was akso great. One of the few movies based in my home state of Arkansas.
I have to say DVD, your taste and passion for certain films aligns with my own so frequently. It is the reason I keep your videos bookmarked for reference. In Bruges is up there as one of my favourite gangster movies all time as well. It had me look at Colin Farrell in a whole new light. I am a big fan of Brendan Gleeson also. The Guard is brilliant for the same type of sharp tongued humour. Keep up the good work. You should do videos on Actors filmographies or Foreign Films mixed genre. There are soooo many good European, Korean, Australian, Japanese............... sorry I am getting carried away. In Bruges kicks ass and you are very good at what you do.
Great “Near Perfect Movies” list, Darren. Predator is superb and Usual Suspects; definitely one of my all time favourites!!! Just finished watching Black and Blue, on Netflix. Has had mixed reviews but for a Netflix original; corrupt police assassinating drug dealer and rookie cop caught up in the fallout; outstanding tense action 👌👌👌 Catch you on your next presentation and take care 👍👍👍
Don’t know if they are on Prime or not. But think about other greats: 1. The Godfather, 2. The Good, the Bad & the Ugly, 3. The Terminator, 4. First Blood: Rambo, 5. Rocky, Bonus: Sicario. Extra Bonus: Die Hard.
I can’t watch again Leaving Las Vegas even if it’s a fantastic drama, a romantic and beautiful movie. Elizabeth Shue is so beautiful and good in this. It broke my heart. As an all time big fan of Arnold very happy you put Predator at number one. For me this one brought something, new, something bold and of course one of the coolest and bad ass-est monster ever. I still remember the surprise and curiosity and awe moment that brought me the first time i saw it. i am fan of horror and sci-fi too, perfect movie! Loved the Fralty, The Usual Suspect. Mud is on my list and I will look for Open Range ! Thanks for your recommendations!
Love "Open Range". I have watched it many times. There is another similar movie named "Broken Trail", also stars Robert Duvall, which I again think is a great Western.
I really enjoy your reviews. Good list. I have seen every movie on the list. The only one I disagree with you is Open Range, regarding how good it is. Westerns I like better (tho not on Netflix)are The Salvation, Bone Tomahawk and Hateful 8. One of my favorites is Frailty. I really like Paxton. He was a very good actor. He was even great in Aliens. For the fans, I will ask you review the following Paxton movies again or for the first time: A Simple Plan, U-571, Once False Move, Trespass and Indian Summer.
Whole-heartedly agree about John McTiernan. Let's hope he finds his redemption following his legal problems (and a prison sentence), and that he gets a chance to make movies again. Would be interesting to see how he finds himself in the new movie-making era.
It helps to understand what a manager is in baseball. Phillip Hoffman played the manager. Brad Pitt played the GENERAL manager (GM) The GM deals with player contracts and assembles the team among other personnel off the field. The Manager runs the day to day in game team.
My favorite censor to a movie is in The Big Lebowski when it's played on cable...the moment they confront little Larry and ask him "Do you see what happens Larry, do you see what happens when you find a stranger in the Alps!?!? Walter only says it 100 times in a 5 minute section and it cracks me up every time
Great vid, strong commentary, but The Endless Summer was made in 1965, which was 56 years ago, not over 60 ...a critical 4-year distinction to many 56-year olds.
I really enjoyed Hard Eight tonite as per your recommendation. The Killing doesn't seem to be available on Prime in Canada but I'll check it out on ITunes. thanks for these pointers to quality shows as I've really been able to catch up on some great movies that I've originally missed somehow
Predator. All time great. Best movie line ever, IMO: If it bleeds, we can kill it. In short, if you can find a vulnerability in your opponent in any line of life, sport or business - you can find a way to win.
darren its a great service you are providing ive been really digging it all your reccomendations - just thought i'd add a couple of tidbits, no, make that 3 things - 1st you could have added to USUAL SUSPECTS where they got the title, from the dialogue in last scene from Humphrey Bogart's CASABLANCA also the number 2 thing I thought I;d mention in terms of old / ancient mpvies that were great & that are still relevant today, Edward G. Robinson's role in the 1920's/30s classic SEA WOLF and the third thing i'll mention, while LEAVING LAS VEGAS is a way more famous, it's not nearly as enjoyable as Nicholas Cage's RED ROCK WEST with Dennis Hopper. Meanwhie Keep up he good work, You've turned me onto too many to count,
Love Baz Lurmans Shakespeare and it’s a Great soundtrack. This was a really good list, I am going to be watching a lot of old Favs and some new to me classics from your list. And thanks because Prime does not make finding this kinda stuff easy.
Ha ha, he's obviously speaking AS an American, TO an American audience!! WE totally got the Black humour from 'In Bruge' in the UK!! The tone of dark, serious themes, played AS a straight hitman study, but using the Irish culture, language & sensibilities (Farrell's character having NO filters at all socially is fcvkng hilarious!!). On second viewing, the plot is rather convoluted & contrived, Farrell getting sent BACK to Bruge even AFTER he's escaped Harry Waters..........Hmmmm! Ralph Fiennes mob boss's fanatical morality on killing, forcing him to kill himself because HE blows an obnoxious dwarf's head off, who 'happens' to be wearing a Schoolboy's uniform, with hollow point bullets.......strains credibility a tad? lol.................But it's a film I enjoy EVERY time I watch it, which is about 5or 6 already!!
The majority of my DVD collection could fall into that category. I gravitate to more underground/unknown actor movies. Many movies with famous actors look to me like they "mailed in" the effort. One person I spoke with agreed and said that the lesser known actors often try harder and don't rely on their reputation. Some of the big name movies almost made me yawn myself to death.
I think "perfect" is the wrong word here. Engaging? yes, Watchable? yes, Timeless? yes, Really Good? yes. I don't know how "Predator" ended up as #1, but that's OK! I am just SO GLAD that this list did NOT end up like so many English language Top-whatever lists with "Citizen Kane" at the top, God, I hate that movie.
Romeo + Juliet is lazy movie making. The best version, in my opinion, is the Franco Zeffirelli 1968 version. Filmed on location, perfectly costumed and incredibly scored, there are imitators (the Hailee Steinfeld/Douglas Booth vehicle), but nobody has topped Zeffirelli’s classic, yet. Don’t watch Shakespeare Lite, Shakespeare for the Illiterate, or Shakespeare with Guns. Watch Shakespeare for Shakespeare done the way the Bard intended… it matters.
The Killing is a fantastic movie. Not sure if it fits into the Film Noir category but I loved it. Open Range, didn't seem like 2 hrs. Annette Benning was beautiful in this movie. Didn't want to watch Moneyball because I'm a HUGE lifetime baseball fan and was sceptical. When I did... loved it!! I know high school is a minor plot point to my favorite movie of that genre and era but, I think most folks who grew up Rock and Roll fans in the 70's would add Almost Famous to the list. Every time I watch it, I don't want it to end. Plus, I LOVE Frances McDormand.
Very good Walter Matthau movie that isn't famous is " a new leaf". Highly recommend and im not a comedy person per se. Another somewhat obscure, but very funny comedy is Dom Deluise in "fatso"......"open range" was very good. "Traffic" was amazing. "snatch" was very good. "predator" was great.
